Journal box lid



July 4, 1939. o, C, DURYEA JOURNAL BOX LID Filed July 22, 1936 Patented July 4, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in journal box lids and it consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a lid structure for journal boxes which may be readily assembled without the aid of special tools, by a lone operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide a structure of this kind including a spring for holding the lid either opened or closed and which spring is so constructed as to lock the hinge pin for the lid against displacement in at least one direction.

Another object of the invention is to provide a lid structure of this kind which consists of but a few parts whereby the same may be produced at a relatively low cost.

The above mentioned objects of the invention, as well as others, together with the advantages thereof, will more fully appear as the specification proceeds.

In the drawing:

Fig. l is a view in front elevation of a journal box lid structure embodying the preferred form of the invention with parts broken away better to show the construction thereof;

Fig. 2 is a central longitudinal vertical sectional view through the lid structure and part of the associated box as taken on the line 22 of Fig, 1, the lever-like hood associated with the lid being shown in its open position;

Fig. 3 is another longitudinal vertical sectional View through the box as taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 and shows the hood in a closed position with respect to the lid, and

Fig. 4 is a detail sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and shows the hood in an open position with respect to the lid with the end portion of the spring so arranged with respect to the hinge pin as to permit an insertion or a removal of the hinge pin.

Referring now in detail to the accompanying drawing, 5 indicates the journal box, as a whole, which is open at the front and is provided on the midportion of its top wall, near said front, with a hinge lug 6. Said lug is apertured transversely to receive a hinge or pivot pin as will later appear and the front and top of said lug are formed as cam surfaces 611 and 6b respectively.

1 indicates a lid for closing the open front of the box. Preferably the lid is of sheet steel. It is formed at the top end with a pair of laterally spaced ears 8-8, to coact with the apertured lug 6 in receiving a hinge pin 9 about which the lid is swung from a closed position with respect to the front of the box to an open position and vice versa. One of said ears (the left hand one in Fig. 1) is provided with an extension In which is bendable from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 to the full line position shown in Fig. 1 and wherein said extension projects across the end of said ear to act as a stop for the associated end of the hinge pin. The lid is provided at that end opposite its ears 8 with a lip II that projects beyond the bottom wall of the box to provide a finger hold for use in opening the lid.

l2 indicates, as a whole, a spring for holding the lid in either its open or closed position. As herein shown, said spring is similar to the letter w in shape. It comprises laterally spaced and substantially parallel pairs of legs, each comprising inner and outer leg members I3 and [4 respectively. The inner leg members of both pairs are connected together at the top ends by a central cross member i5 upon which is mounted a roller it for rolling engagement with the lug surfaces to and 6b respectively. The bottom ends of the leg members l3 and M respectively, of each pair, are connected by means of cross members l!l'|. The top end of each outer member i4 is bent rearwardly as an arm l8 to extend beneath the hinge pin, at each end of the lug 6. Each arm includes a lateral extension l9, and that arm extension [9, (the left hand one in Fig. 1) associated with the ear 8 having the extension ID, is relatively short. The other arm extension, (the right hand one in Fig. 1) is relatively long and is formed at its extremity with a circular eye or loop l9a arranged in a plane at a right angle to said arm extension. This loop or eye has an inside diameter which permits passage of the pin 9 therethrough.

The bottom cross members ll of the spring engage in a recess 26 formed therefor in the midportion of the lid and a clip 2! is secured to the lid in any suitable manner to confine said cross members in the recess 20.

To energize the spring for its intended purpose, I provide a lever-like hood member 22 made of pressed sheet metal. Said hood includes a front wall 23, an angularly disposed top wall 24 and side walls 25-25 that are spaced apart a distance approximating the distance between the inner ends of the lid ears 88. The side Walls 25 of the lever-like hood, near the wall 24, are formed as ears 26, each having an opening 2! therein of a diameter receiving the pin 9. Each car has its edge formed as a cam surface 28. One end of said surface starts as a recess 29 which is radially spaced closer to the axis of the pin 9 than a second recess 39 in said surface, which is spaced about from the first mentioned recess.

The cam surfaces are so spaced apart as to operatively engage the spring extensions i9*|9 and the hood as a whole, is so formed and is of such size as to completely enclose the spring l2 when said hood is in a closed position against the lid. Also, that portion of the hood associated with the wall 24 overhangs the lug E and associated parts.

Assume that the spring 12 has been secured to the lid by means of the clip 2! To assemble the parts, the lid is arranged with its ears 8 in line with the aperture in the boss 6 and with the bent arms It of the spring positioned below the plane of the pin aperture in the lug ii. The hood is disposed in an open position with respect to the lid so that the ears 26 of the hood are arranged at the inner end of each lid ear 3 and with the recess 29 of the cam surfaces 28 engaged with the spring extensions l9. A slight inward and downward pressure of the hood at this time will flex the spring extensions downwardly and inwardly so as to line the ear openings 2'l21 with the lid ears 8-il and with the aperture in the lug At time, the spring extension eye IQa is substantially coincident with the openings 21 in the ears .26. A pin 3 is then inserted through the eye 99a, into the outer end of one of the ears of the lid, through the adjacent hood ears and lug 6 and then through the other lid ear until it engages the stop extension. iii. The ends of the pin are then about flush with the outer ends of the lid ears. The inward and downward pressure on the hood may now be released.

It is to be noted that in effect, the hood operates as a bell crank-like lever of the first class in that it has a relatively long power arm on one side of the axis of the pin and a relatively shorter load arm on the other side of said axis, constituted by the cam portions of the ears When the lever-like hood is swung downwardly into the closed position against the lid, the cam surfaces 28 increasing in diameter as they do from the recesses 59., force the arms E8 of the spring downwardly and away from the axis of the pin 9 and energizes the spring. The parts are so proportioned that when the recesses 3il-3t! reach the spring extensions is, a finger (ii on the free end of the hood will engage in a recess 32 provided therefor on the lid 1 below the recess 2| that receives the cross members i! of the spring. When the hood is in this closed position, it is apparent that the spring being energized,

the eye 59a moves out of register with the lidears into a position where a part of said eye stands across the opening afforded by the associated ear 8 so as to block off the same to prevent endwise outward movement of the pin 9.

With the parts in this position, the spring in its energized condition operates to hold the lid in its closed position against the open front of the box. When the spring is energized, it is ap parent that the spring operates to hold the roller 16 tightly up against the cam surface 5a of the lug 5 and this prevents any play in the parts which would produce rattling and subsequent wear.

When it is desired to open the lid for inspcc tion of the inside parts of the journal box, the finger H is grasped and the lid swung upwardly about the pin Q as an axis. In this movement of the lid, the roller 25 rolls upwardly over the cam surface 6a of the lug and during this th .e, the spring is further energized. As the roller l6 passes over the corner at the top end of the surface Ga, onto the surface 5b, which is inclined downwardly and inwardly, the energized spring will cause th lid to snap into its wide open position. In this position, the roller If is engaged on that part of the cam surface 61) which is spaced the shortest distance from the axis of the pin 9.

It is pointed out at this time that as the hood is still in its closed position with respect to the lid, the pin 9 is still locked against displacement. In the opening movement of the lid, the hood prevents the entrance of any dust, dirt or foreign particles, which may happen to be upon the top of the box, into the open front of the box.

To close the lid, a downward pressure is applied to the lip ll of the lid when the roller 16 will ride upwardly and forwardly on the surface 6b and as soon as it passes the front corner thereof and onto the surface Ea, the lid will automatically close with a snap action against the open front of the box.

Should it be necessary to disassemble the lid structure for the replacement of any of the parts thereof, with the lid in its closed position. the lever-like hood is swung upwardly into an open position with respect to the lid. The parts are then in the position shown in Fig. l wherein the parts It! of the spring are disposed in the recesses 29.

This deenergizes the sp s may be moved into comp te alignment with the pin. The pin may then be removed endwise out through one of the ears of the lid and through said eye, when the hood may be removed with respect to the lid and the lid then removed from the box.

The structure described comprises but few parts that may be easily assembled. When said parts are so assembled and the hood is in its operable position on the lid, the spring coacts with the hood not only to hold the lid in closed position but to hold the hinge pin for the lid against displacement.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form and arrangement of the parts as well as to the manner in which they are assembled, the same is to be considered only in the illustrative sense so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to journal box for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a portion engaging the lid, a second portion engaging a part of the box and a third portion which is energizable to hold the lid in a closed position against the open front of the box, means movable independently of the lid, into positions for energizing and deenergizing said spring, one of said spring portions including a part which when the spring is being energized by said means, moving into a position to extend across the end of the pin to prevent endwise displacement thereof in one direction.

2. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to journal box for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a portion engaging the lid, a second portion engaging a part of the box and a third portion which is energizable to hold the lid in a closed position against the open front of the box, means movable independently of the lid into p0- ng c that the eye i941 ii le sitions for energizing and deenergizing the spring, said third portion of the spring including a part which when the spring is being energized by said means, moves into a position to extend across the end of the pin to prevent endwise displacement thereof in one direction.

3. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to the box for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a portion engaging the lid, a second portion engaging a part of the box and laterally spaced third and fourth portions through which the spring may be energized to hold the lid in a closed position against the open front of the box, means movable independently of the lid into positions wherein it is operable in conjunction with said third and fourth portions for energizing and deenergizing the spring, one of said last mentioned portions including a part which the spring is being energized by said means, moves into a position to extend across one end of the pin to prevent endwise displacement of the pin in one direction.

4. In combination with a journal box open at the front, .a lug on the box, a lid having end ears, a pin extending through said lug and ears to provide a pivotal connection for the lid whereby the same may be swung from an open to a closed position against the front of the box, spring means associated with the lid for holding the same in either its open or closed position, means preventing endwise movement of the pin in one direction, means movable independently of the lid into positions for energizing and deenergizing said spring means, said spring means having an end portion which when said spring means is energized extends across the other end of said pin to prevent its endwise displacement in the other direction.

5. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to the box for aswinging movement for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a portion engaging said lid, a second portion engaging the box, a member hinged to the box for engaging laterally spaced third and fourth portions of the spring for energizing the same to hold the lid in its closed position, one of said last mentioned portions of the spring including a part which when said spring is being energized moves into a position to extend across one end of the pin to prevent endwise displacement of the pin in one direction.

6. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to the box for a swinging movement for opening and closing the front of the box, a spring having a mid portion engaged with the box, a pair of intermediate portions engaged with the lid, a member hinged to the lid for engaging a pair of end portions of the spring for energizing the spring for holding the lid in its closed position, one of said end portions of the spring when said member is being swung toward the lid to energize the spring, moving into a position to block one end of the pin to prevent its displacement in one direction, said end portion when said member is being swung away from the lid to deenergize the spring, moving into a position to permit removal of the pin in said one direction.

7. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to the box for a swinging movement for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a portion engaging the lid, a second portion engaging the box, a member hinged on said pin and engaging a third portion of the spring and swingable toward the lid for energizing the spring in holding the lid in its closed position, said spring including a part which in the energizing of the spring by said member, moves into a position across one end of the pin to lock the pin against endwise displacement in one direction and means extending across the other end of the pin for locking the same against endwise displacement in the other direction.

3. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lug on the box, a lid having end ears, a pin extending through said lug and ears to provide a pivotal connection for the lid whereby the same may be swung from an open to a closed position against the front of the box, spring means associated with the lid for holding the same in either its open or its closed position, means swingable independently of the lid into different positions for energizing and deenergizing said spring means, a part of said spring means being arranged at one end of the pin and operating when said spring means is being energized, to move into a position crossing said end of the pin to prevent its displacement in one direction with respect to said lugs and ears.

9. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lug on the box, a lid having end ears, a pin extending through said lug and ears to provide a pivotal connection for the lid whereby the same may be swung from an open to a closed position, spring means associated with the lid for holding the same in either its open or its closed position, and means swingable independently of the lid into different positions for energizing and deenergizing said spring means, a part of said spring means being arranged at one end of the pin and operating when said spring means is being energized to move into a position crossing said end of the pin to prevent its displacement in one direction with respect to said lug and ears, said part of said spring means operating when the same is being deenergized to move into a position out of the way of said end of the pin to permit its endwise displacement in one direction with respect to said lug and said ears.

10. In combination with a journal box open at the front, a lid, a pin providing a hinged connection for the lid with respect to the box for a swinging movement for opening and closing the front thereof, a spring having a midportion engaged with the box, a pair of intermediate portions engaged with the lid and a pair of end por tions, one of which has a part arranged outwardly of one end of said pin, a member hinged with respect to the lid and formed for engagement with said pair of end portions for energizing the spring for holding the lid in its closed position, said part of said one of said end portions operating when said member is being swung toward the lid to energize the spring, moving into a position to stand across said one end of the pin to prevent its displacement in one direction.

OTHO C. DURYEAO 

